Thanks to everyone who is interested in "Rubenstein Remembers."

The correct spelling of my name is Ewen - often misspelt even by close friends and those who have my albums in front of them!

The song lyrics as I wrote them are:-

RUBENSTEIN REMEMBERS (Ewen Carruthers)

There's an old man in the park
Sometimes sits till after dark
Old men often don't say much
Rubenstein is just one such

But if you sit with him a while
He will talk and sometimes smile
Rubenstein remembers
Long ago Septembers long ago

He was born in Germany
Poor but loving family
Jewish tailors don't get rich
But they sew a close, close stitch
Married 1929
wife 2 children doing fine
Until 1939
took them down that railroad line

Rubenstein remembers
But he will not say
What he did or where he was
All those years he went away

Rubenstein remembers
But his voice is still
He pulls his coat around him
As he feels a sudden chill
And he walks away

La La La.........

The alterations in the song as recorded by Allan Taylor are explained below in the emails I sent to Susan earlier this year:

"Dear Susan:
> > Thanks to Graham Hodge for providing the words to "Rubenstein Remembers"
> > as originally written by myself. To forestall any minor controversy, I
> > would explain that when I wrote the song about 20 years ago Allan
> > Taylor, who was, and still is, a friend of mine asked if he could record
> > the song. He subsequently asked if he could make some alterations as
> > he was not comfortable with the lines in question. I said, o.k. and he
> > recorded the amended version. Allan has never asked for a songwriting
> > credit.
> > In conclusion, I have no problem with either version of "Rubenstein
> > Remembers". As a matter of interest, I have recently recorded my
> > original version of the song on an album for Stockfisch Records to be
> > released later this year.
> > Yours truly, Ewen Carruthers, Newark California, USA"

and:

"I won't go into great detail but this was a song that took several years to complete as I wanted to convey what happened without going into horrific detail. I had the melody and the first part of the song, but put it to one side as I did'nt know how to end it. Several years later I was watching a TV documentary where concentration camp survivors were being interviewed. In many cases they could not or would not talk about their experiences. I then realized I could finish the song."

and:

"I cannot remember what precisely prompted me to write the song, but as I recall it was the combination of the two words "Rubenstein Remembers" which set me on a train of thought as to what a person with this name might remember, rather than setting out to write a song about the Holocaust. Therefore, I had a title before I had any other lyrics!
Having decided on the subject and being particularly interested in history I felt it was worthwhile completing the song even though, as I have already mentioned, I set it aside for several years until I could find a way to end it.
I agree that this is an event which should never be forgotten although I have to say that I am not aware of any other song which touches on the subject.
Yes, I remember Bill Sables and we did both live in Yorkshire in the 80's and early 90's, and our paths occasionally crossed. If you see him again give him my regards.
Incidentally, I am originally from Northumberland, the next county above Co. Durham.

Thank you for your continued interest in the song.

Please feel free to email me directly at ewencarruthers@yahoo.com


Ewen Carruthers